2025-26 Theme Verse: “Called to Serve”

Each fall, William Carey University selects a theme verse from the Bible to guide its mission and focus for the academic year. This year’s theme is “Called to Serve.”

This choice is inspired by Matthew 23, which describes events in Jerusalem during the week before Jesus Christ was crucified. Knowing his time on earth was short, Jesus spoke to many people – focusing on major themes from his ministry with heightened urgency.

“The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Now just as then, Jesus calls us to serve.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this deeply. In a 1968 sermon called “The Drum Major Instinct,” he explored the notion that the way to achieve greatness is to grab a baton and lead the parade.

“If you want to be great — wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness. It means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

Dr. King’s words, spoken just two months before his assassination, echo those of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.

They remind us that greatness is not about accumulating accolades or possessions, but that true greatness is found in loving and serving others, said Dr. Brett Golson, WCU vice president of strategic operations.

As a Christian university, we want to live the truth that we are called to serve.